The Science of Hops Ron Godin Ph.D. Soil Scientist/Agronomist CSU Extension Tri-River Area Delta, Colorado (970) 874-2197, ron.godin@colostate.edu
Hops
Hops Production If you grow hops you should know brewing!
The Science of Hops - What are hops? - Planting Hops - care and feeding - Hop cone development - Harvesting & picking - Drying
Hops (Humulus lupulus) - perennial (20 30 yrs) - winter hardy - reproduces by rhizomes - few pest in western CO! - can be easily grown organically
Hops Hops are the female flower cones of the hop plant (Humulus lupulus) They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, other beverages and in herbal medicine. The first documented use in beer is from the eleventh century. Hops contain several characteristics favorable to beer, balancing the sweetness of the malt with bitterness, contributing flowery, citrus, fruity or herbal aromas, and have an antibiotic effect that favors the activity of brewer's yeast over less desirable microorganisms. The hop plant is a vigorous climbing herbaceous perennial. Many different varieties of hops are grown by farmers all around the world, with different types being used for particular styles of beer. What are hops?
Lupulins Photo by HopUnion Photo by author
Lupulins
Hop cone components (dry) 10% water 15% total resins 0.5% essential oil 4% tannins 2% monosaccharides 2% pectins 0.1% amino acid 3% lipids and wax 15% proteins 8% ash 40.4% residual carbohydrate (cellulose, lignin) Total resins = hard resins + soft resins + uncharacterized soft resins Soft resins = Alpha acids (>50% but insoluble) + Beta acids
Alpha & Beta Acids contained in Lupulins Photo by HopUnion Alpha acids add bitterness to beer - take approx. 1 hr of boiling to isomerize or solubilize Alpha acids to release bittering - high and ultra high alpha acid hops used for bittering - lower alpha acid hops used for flavoring and aroma -Take approx. 2-10 mins to release aromas and flavors or can be dry hopped - Generally, plant bittering & aroma or dual purpose
Hops Alpha Acid Percentage BULLION 11% CASCADE 8% CENTENNIAL 11.5% CHINOOK 14% CLUSTER 8.5% CRYSTAL 5% CTZ 15% EROICA 14% FUGGLES 5.5% GALENA 14% HALL. HERSBRUCKER 5% HALL. MITTELFRUEH 5% LIBERTY 6% MT. HOOD 8% NORTHERN BREWER 8% NUGGET 14% PERLE 9.5% SUMMIT 19.5% WILLAMETTE 6%
A word about Rhizome Diseases - All rhizomes we (CSU) tested have Apple Mosaic Virus and others - These included all rhizomes from Washington, Oregon and Idaho - We recommend you do not plant rhizomes that are diseased (be sure of your source!) - 20 25% yield loss by year 5!
Disease Free Hop Transplants Summit Plant Laboratories, Inc. 3003 West Vine Drive Fort Collins, CO 80521 www.plantlabs.com/products.htm (970)224-2021 or toll free 1-800-654-1017 Most Colorado hop growers with virus free hop rhizomes for sale Misty Mountain Hops, Olathe, (619)855-7347
Trellised 1 st year with cover crop and weed control
1 st year hops not trellised
Trellised 1 st year hops
2 nd year hops emerging
3 rd year hops NO weed control = 25+% yield loss
Mature Hop Yard
Fertilization of Hops
Plants are 20 ft tall at maturity!
Hop Care & Feeding ****Soil test each Spring!!! Avoids train wrecks! Recommended 2nd year fertilization rates: Nitrogen (N) = 175 lbs/ac (6 8 tons compost/ac @ 1.5% N) or 1.5-2.0 tons/ac Crab meal (5-2-0.5) Phosphorus (P) = 100 lbs/ac (included in compost & crab meal) Potassium (K) = 75 lbs/ac (included in compost & crab meal) Subsequent years based on 6 8 bale yield (1200-1600 lbs/ac) meal) (bale = 200 lbs dry cones) Nitrogen (N) = 200 250 lbs/ac (6 7 tons compost/ac) 2 2.5 tons crab meal /ac Phosphorus (P) = 60-100 lbs/ac (included in compost & crab
Hop Growing Requirements Hop Care & Feeding Essential Plant Nutrients Essential: A plant can not complete its life cycle without all of these nutrients C - Carbon H - Hydrogen O Oxygen * Cations - Anions Macro N Nitrogen - P Phosphorus - K Potassium* S Sulfur - Ca Calcium* Mg Magnesium* Micro Fe Iron* Mn Manganese* Cu Copper* Zn Zinc* B Boron - Cl - Chloride Mo - Molybdenum
Soil Test Results CaCO3 CaCO3 Don t Guess Soil Test!!!!!!!!!!
Hop Soil Nutrient Levels for Western Colorado Hop Soil Test Levels Soil samples taken from top foot of soil in and near the bine row Adequate Levels for Spring for 2+ year old bines Nutrient NO 3 -N P K Ca Mg SO 4 -S Zn Fe Mn Cu B Adequate Levels 40-50 ppm* > 25 ppm > 250 ppm > 4000 ppm > 500 ppm > 25 ppm > 5 ppm > 10 ppm > 4 ppm >1 ppm > 1.5 ppm * Nitrogen can be applied in separate applications through the first week of July for western Colorado. ppm x 4 = lbs/ac
Selecting Hop Varieties
USDA list of most of the hop varieties Ahil 2 1 05 0 Alliance 6 605 0 AlphArom a 2 140 6 Apolon 21 05 1 Aquila 212 22 Atlas 2 105 2 Auro ra 2 105 3 Backa 5 60 02 Backa 2 10 80 Banner 2 12 87 Bian ca 2 169 8 Blato 215 27 Blisk 2 123 8 Blue Nor t hern Brewer 210 79 Bobek 212 39 BOR 7 04 2 128 5 Bramling 2 12 84 Bramling Cross 6 805 1 Brewer 's Gold 190 01 Brewer 's Gold vf 2 11 16 Buket 21 24 0 Bullion 641 00 Bullion 1 0A, vf 21 05 6 Bullion 6A 211 96 Calicross 660 54 Can ad ian Redv ine 2 167 9 Cante rbury Goldin g 21 68 1 Cas cade 5 60 13 Cas cade, vf 210 92 Cekin 2 1 61 3 Celeia 2 16 11 Centennial 215 07 Cerera 216 12 Chelan (no USDA Nr.) Chinook 2 122 6 Cicero 2 161 4 Columbus (no U SDA Nr.) Columbia 2104 0 Comet 6 20 13 Crys t al 2 149 0 Defender 62 05 3 Density 62 05 2 Dun av 21 08 1 Early Cluster 651 03 Early Prolific 2127 6 Early Promise 2 127 7 Easte rn Gold 216 78 Easte rn Green 21 7 00 East Ke nt Goldin g 21 68 0 Eastwell Goldi n g 2 166 9 Elsaesser 2 117 0 Eroica 2 118 3 Eroica, vf 2 122 0 F- 10 (no USDA Nr.) First Choice 6 605 5 Fuggle 192 09 Fuggle H 4 820 9 Fuggle H, v.f. 216 50 Fuggle N 2 101 6 Fuggle tet raplo id 2 100 3 Furano Ace 2 170 1 Gale n a 2 118 2 Gale n a v.f. 2 169 9 Golden St ar 21 03 9 Green Bullet 21 40 4 Groene Bel 21 21 6 Haller t auer Gold 21 67 1 Haller t auer T ra dition 216 72 Haller t auer Magnum 216 70 Haller t auer mf 560 01 Haller t auer mf 210 14 Hallert. mf tetr aploid 213 97 N.Ze aland Haller t auer 216 10 Her b rucker 6 21 51 4 Her b rucker 8 21 51 5 Hers b rucker 9 215 16 Hers b rucker al p ha 2 151 8 Hers b rucker E 21 17 9 Hers b rucker G 2 118 5 Hers b rucker P u re 2 167 3 Hers b rucker re d - stem 215 17 Horiz o n 2 137 3 Hueller Bitter 210 97 Hybri d - 2 211 67 Janus 620 51 Kent Goldi n g 21 68 0 Keywort h's Ear ly 21 27 8 Keywort h's Mid- seas o n 212 79 Kirin II 2 128 6 Kitamid o ri 21 67 7 Lan dhopfen 2 117 2 Late Cluster, L 1 6 210 11 Late Cluster, L8 6510 4 Liberty 2145 7 Lubelski - Pulawy 2 11 13 Lubelski - Pulawy,vf 2 152 3 Lucan 2 152 8 Mt.Hood 2 145 5 Nadwislanska 2 111 4 Nadwislanska,vf 2 152 4 Neop lan t a 21 08 2 Nordgaard 1 47 8 2 12 15 North e rn Brewer 64 10 7 North e rn Brewer, vf 2 109 3 Nugget 21 19 3 Olympic 212 25 Omega 216 67 Orion 21 67 5 Pacific Gem 216 09 Perle 21 22 7 Peth am Goldin g 6 805 2 Pocket Talism a n 21 11 5 Precoce d'bourgogne 211 68 Pride of K e nt 2 128 0 Pride of Ringwo o d 66 05 2 Prog ress 660 51 Reco rd 21 07 8 Saazer 2 107 7 Saazer 3 6 vf 21 52 1 Saazer 3 8 vf 21 52 2 Saazer tet ra ploid 2 15 34 Saazer Osvald 7 2C 2 15 32 Saazer Osvald 7 2C,vf 215 38 Saazer Osvald 72 Y 2 152 5 Saazer Osvald 72 Y, vf 215 35 Sant iam 21 66 4 Savinja Golding 6 102 0 Saxon 2128 2 Serebr ian ka 21 04 5 Shinshu wase 600 42 Sirem 2 121 4 SmoothCone 66 05 6 Sora chi Ace 2 170 2 Southern Brewer 2 11 87 Southern Cr o ss 21 70 3 Spalt e r 21 18 6 Spalt e r Select 2 167 4 Star 2 121 7 Sterling 21 68 9 Sticklebr a ct 21 40 3 Strissels p alter 21 17 3 Styrian 210 49 Sun (no USDA Nr.) Sunb e am 2 16 97 Sunshine 2128 1 SuperA lph a 2 140 5 Symp hon y (no USDA Nr.) Talis m an 6 510 1 Ta rdif d'bourgogne 2 11 69 Tett n ang e r 2 101 5 Tett n ang e r (Swiss) 610 21 Tet n anger A 2149 6 Tett n ang e r B 214 97 Tillicum (no USDA Nr.) Tolhu rst 21 39 6 Toyom idori 216 76 Ultra 214 84 Univers al 2 153 1 US Tett n ang e r 2 119 7 Vangu ard Sel.Nr. 8 251-16 7 (no USDA Nr.) Viking 21 28 3 Wye Viking 212 83 Vojvo din a 21 08 3 Whitbre ad 's Goldin g 216 68 Willamette 2 10 41 Wuerttembe rger 216 82 Wye Challe n ger 21 04 3 Wye Sax o n 2 128 2 Wye Target, vf 2 111 2 Yakima Cl u ster, L 1 6 51 02 Yeoman 2 149 8 Yugos lavia Goldin g 61 01 9 Zenith 214 99 Zeus (no USDA Nr.) Zlat an 2 153 3
Selecting Hop Varieties CONSULT with you BREWERS! Better performers in growth, vigor and cone production Variety A.A. Purpose Chinook 12-15 Bittering Nugget 12-15 Bittering CTZ 12 16 Bittering Cascade 7-9! Dual/Aroma Centennial 9 Dual/Aroma Crystal 14-16 Dual/Bittering Mt. Hood 4-7 Aroma Willamette 4-7 Aroma
Selecting Hop Varieties Hops that do well in wetter conditions do not do well in Colorado s hot dry climate Noble Hops low bitterness strong aroma All European hops: Hallertau Tettnang Saaz Spaltz Fuggle
Indicators of cone ripeness (time to harvest!) Use your senses: touch, smell, see! 1. Bracts become papery 2. Cones become lighter 3. No grassy or alfalfa type smell to crushed cones 4. Lupulins turn from white/white yellow to golden 5. Dry matter content down to 20 25% Typically have a 10 day harvest window Harvest can start mid to late August to early September Depending on season-long weather condition The hotter the summer the earlier the harvest (depending on pruning and training times)
Lupulins
Commercially Harvest (cut bines from hop yard and into shade) Picking (picking machine) Drying (8-10 hrs @ 140ºF) Conditioning (24 hours in a pile) Baling & warehousing Whole cone Powdered & pelletized Sold & shipped Small Scale Harvest Picking Drying (12 hrs @ 105-120ºF) Vacuum packed and refrigerated or small bales
Harvesting and Picking
Wolf hops picker: approx. cost $40,000 used Can pick from 140-220 bines per hour
Drying (Oast), packing & storing
Hops drying to less than 10% moisture when drying process is finish and ready to bale
Can typically use ambient air < 10% moisture Usually dry to 8% moisture and moisture will go up to 9+% in conditioning
Any Questions?
Thank You!!!!!
Hop yard Standard Trellis Establishment Cost per Acre Plants (3 x 10 ) 1456 $ 4400 1000 $ 3 000 Misc. Hardware & Supplies $ 3000 Poles (21 untreated, lodge pole ) 52 $ 1800 42 $ 4 050 Tractor Work $ 500 Bob Cat $ 600 $ 2 600 7-Strand Wire (carries top wire) $ 1000 #9 Wire (floating top wire) $ 750 Hop Twine (coir: coconut husk) $ 400 48 Ground Anchors 48 $ 500 Pole Setting $ 1000 Gallows (for work on top wires) Scissor Lift $ 500 Labor $ 7000 $ 12 000 Soil Amendments $ 1200 $1 170 Irrigation $ 2 800 Total Establishment Cost $ 22 650 $ 26 500
Hops Gross Income Estimates Per Acre Calculations Chinook Average Yields (dry) 2200 $10/lb $10 Running $12/lb $12 Running $15/lb $15 Running Year 1 Yield Factor - Total Total Total Year 2 30% 880.00 8,800.00 8,800.00 10,560.00 10,560.00 13,200.00 13,200.00 Year 3 90% 1,980.00 19,800.00 28,600.00 23,760.00 34,320.00 29,700.00 42,900.00 Year 4 100% 2,200.00 22,000.00 50,600.00 26,400.00 60,720.00 33,000.00 75,900.00 Year 5 85% 1,870.00 18,700.00 69,300.00 22,440.00 83,160.00 28,050.00 103,950.00 Year 6 80% 1,760.00 17,600.00 86,900.00 21,120.00 104,280.00 26,400.00 130,350.00 Year 7 100% 2,200.00 22,000.00 108,900.00 26,400.00 130,680.00 33,000.00 163,350.00 Year 8 95% 2,090.00 20,900.00 129,800.00 25,080.00 155,760.00 31,350.00 194,700.00
Pests Two spotted spider mite Organic controls insecticidal soaps predatory insects
Cascade Average Yields (dry) 1800 $10/lb $10 Running $12/lb $12 Running $15/lb $15 Running Year 1 Yield Factor - Total Total Total Year 2 40% 30% 720.00 7,200.00 7,200.00 8,640.00 8,640.00 10,800.00 10,800.00 Year 3 90% 1,620.00 16,200.00 23,400.00 19,440.00 28,080.00 24,300.00 35,100.00 Year 4 100% 1,800.00 18,000.00 41,400.00 21,600.00 49,680.00 27,000.00 62,100.00 Year 5 85% 1,530.00 15,300.00 56,700.00 18,360.00 68,040.00 22,950.00 85,050.00 Year 6 80% 1,440.00 14,400.00 71,100.00 17,280.00 85,320.00 21,600.00 106,650.00 Year 7 100% 1,800.00 18,000.00 89,100.00 21,600.00 106,920.00 27,000.00 133,650.00 Year 8 95% 1,710.00 17,100.00 106,200.00 20,520.00 127,440.00 25,650.00 159,300.00